More strategy discussion, GLs 2 Minions. (in General)

I like my current 2 Minion strategy, with it's focus on AoF boosted AS. But it's starting to fall behind my peers, and I dislike my utter vulnerability to the MoD.

So I'm open to all thoughts and suggestions on switching things up a little. But my UC is here to stay. ;)

Ideally, I'd like to keep the AS and AoF focus. Is a RoS really needed? Can I keep a workable AS in the face of DM without it? And would my VA then become worthless, and be too easy to negate with DM without the protection of a RoS?

How do I limit the power the MoD has over me? Hitting me with a SoC and BL boosted first hit, all at x2 damage due to hitting AS hurts. It really hurts. Not only that, but it ignores the PL buffer from my rear minion, effectively also cutting my HP in half.

If I'm honest, my UC doesn't really hit for all that much. I've got a nice amount of PTH (+222 currently IIRC, getting to match the top weapons in the game already!) but I'm out UCed by Jigs. :( So adding another damage dealer to my team might help. Especially when facing EXBows.

I've considered Inking my RoS to a RoBF. This would give me some extra damage, and a little more MM protection, but I'd lose about 1.6M levels of AS in the trade off.

I could swap my PL minion to the front (with some AC to soak damage, and lessen the MoD's impact on my PL), maybe drop the Gi and EC for something like a ToA. But then I'd lose the SoC. Plus, using AS, I can't get any use out of a TSA on my PL minion, so is PL even really worth it?

I've only got a small anti base Decay AMF, which I'm in the process of swapping over to my UC minion, to free up the XP/Spell Slot on my Enchanter.

I love UC. I love the synergy of the AoF and AS. Is there any way I can make my current set up any better?

Your own PTH is what gives the MoD/SoC it's power over you. Hit less and you give them less to come back with. Not much of a help, but...

Higher up there are some pretty big DMs. I'd suggest you start building up real HP, the beauty of the smaller team is the XP concentration, you should start to see results pretty quickly. Real HP is a huge bonus against any team that uses DM. The less you rely on enchantments the stronger you can be. That doesn't mean you need to stop building up AS, but real HP gives you some back up.

RBF would be worth it probably to give you a second damage dealer, but in the long run I suspect you'd see that take over as the main damage dealer...

And in return my UC PTH isn't really helpful when facing EC/EXbow, as you only need that one hit to land your SoC return. ;)

My DEX is tiny (100K), with my XP put into STR/UC. I don't need the DEX to hit. But I then sacrifice the defensive side of DEX. All other SoC Tanks will hit me at least once per round, and my UC Evasion (133 atm) is reduced by the 60% penalty for being higher than my DEX.

Train HP seems to be a waste if I continue to use AS. With VA, my Tank keeps himself alive with that, and the HP is only really needed when facing GA (as currently the PL picks up all non MoD incoming damage).

I know I should use a Ranged weapon, but I want a Tank that doesn't devote any cash into a Weapon, so Slings, Bows and XBows are out. ;)

The thing is, without the RoS you're going to be easy pickings for DM. And the TSA/PL combo is a good one when you've enough HP....

With TSA/PL, I'd need the PL minion to take the hits, or any MoD will kill me without breaking a sweat. Which means I'd get no use out of a SoC on my UC Tank.

I could reverse the order,and have the PL minion in front, as I wouldn't want to drop the AoF for an AoI on the UC minion.

I'd also probably need DM for GA.

With the PL minion in front, I could stick some BoF on instead of SB, to get some STR/PTH bonuses for my UC minion.

The thing I like about AS is that HP is so strong, and I will be using an AoF on my UC minion anyway, that it gives such a boost to AS granted HP.

If I were going to build a 2 minion UC team this is what I would do:

First minion, just train HP and PL. Wear high AC but use a MgS and BoF. So you can boost your UC minion and reduce SG damage.

Second minion train DM,HP and UC, wear a ToA and then the rest monk gear. I would train more DM than HP, you're looking to negate the GA.

but that's just me.

actually...that might be my next NCB.

Decay would be a killer without AMF.

For me, Decay is just one of those things I have to accept. It isn't worth the AMF investment, and I'm probably going to put DM on my team soon. There's just more use for it.